Madagascar - Tropical Cyclone Kesiny OCHA Situation Report No. 2

This report is based on information provided
by the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Madagascar on 17 May 2002.

Situation

1. On 9 May 2002 at 6:00 pm (local time),
tropical cyclone Kesiny landed 80km north of Vohemar, in the northern tip
of Madagascar, affecting the areas situated between Diego Suarez, Vohemar
and Ambilobe in the province of Antsiranana. Heavy rains with average
winds of 120km/h and gusts up to 180km/h were recorded. The cyclone
tracked southwestward, along the north-west coast of Madagascar and then
moved towards south when dissipated.

2. Flooding and landslides caused by
heavy rains were reported in Ambilobe, Diego Suarez, and Vohemar in Antsiranana
province.

3. On 13 May 2002, based on information
received from the provinces of Antsiranana and Toamasina, it was agreed
that the inter-agency mission should be fielded to the affected areas.
Subsequently on 15 May, a locally-organised inter-agency mission
was dispatched to the north, to evaluate the damages in the areas of Ambilobe,
Analalava, Nosy Be, Sambava and Vohemar, and on 16 May, to the East Coast,
in the areas of Fenerive Est, Maroantsetra and Toamasina. Representatives
from the National Relief Council (CNS), UNDP, WHO, WFP, CARE, MSF, the
World Bank, the European Union and USAID participated in the mission.

4. The following information was provided
by the Government, United Nations Volunteers placed in the affected areas,
CARE International, Catholic Relief Services and participants of the above-mentioned
inter-agency mission:

Antsiranana province

Antsiranana II and Ambilobe districts:
The communes of Anivorano, Antsalaka and Bobasakoa located at the exit
point of the cyclone path, are the most affected areas. While damages
on infrastructure are limited, the impact on the agriculture sector appears
to be high, with harvesting of the fields was expected in the coming weeks.

Nosy Be district: Two deaths caused
by the collapse of a house were recorded. No substantive damage has
been observed.

Vohemar district: No damages have
been reported. The aerial assessment indicated no destruction.

Province of Toamasina

Fenerive Est district: Seven deaths
have been reported. Twelve bridges on the road to Toamasina have
been damaged. Five main bridges have been totally destroyed. Communication
problems have been contributing to lack of information.

Maroantsetra district: As the
risk of flooding has decreased, people evacuated from the low lying areas
are returning to their homes. Crop production for the new planting season
will definitely be affected, while the harvest has been completed.

Toamasina district: The city of
Toamasina has suffered from heavy flooding. Electricity was cut for five
days. A lot of areas inside the city remain flooded. All the
wells in the city have been polluted, posing a health risk. At least
20,000 persons have been affected. Some deaths have been reported,
while the number needs to be confirmed. Roads to Brickaville (on
the South) have been cut due to several landslides (63 landslides reported)
destroying 16 bridges. The city is only accessible by air or sea.

National and international Response

5. No state of emergency has been declared
for this disaster and the Government of Madagascar has not made any request
for international assistance.

6. Medical assistance was provided by
WHO and MSF during the inter-agency mission in Toamasina.

7. The findings of the assessment on
the East Coast, especially in Toamasina, indicated an urgent need for a
complementary evaluation and immediate interventions in the health and
water/sanitation sectors. Arrangements are being done for this purpose,
by the French Cooperation, through a Technical Assistant, based in Toamasina.
An evaluation mission for the agricultural sector will also be organized
in the coming weeks.

8. OCHA remains in contact with the UN
Resident Coordinator's Office in Madagascar, and will revert with further
information when available.

9. This situation report, together with
information on other ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA
Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int